Phil Odell (27) earned second-team All-Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference honors by ranking third in the league with 107 tackles and is the first Skyhawk since Justin Johnson in 2010 to earn a postseason conference honor.

Steve Lewis/Durango Herald file photo

Phil Odell (27) earned second-team All-Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference honors by ranking third in the league with 107 tackles and is the first Skyhawk since Justin Johnson in 2010 to earn a postseason conference honor.

Despite a down season, the Fort Lewis College football team managed to land one All-Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference selection, with linebacker Phil Odell honored as a second-team selection.

Odell, a senior, finished his career as the Skyhawks’ all-time leader in tackles with 367 and was third in tackles in the RMAC as a senior, piling up 107 stops as the central figure in the FLC defense.

The Show Low, Ariz., native also had 7½ tackles for loss, 2½ sacks, one interception, three pass breakups and a forced fumble in 2012, a bright spot in an 0-10 season for Fort Lewis.

“I think that it’s phenomenal that Phil, after all his hard work and individual efforts, got recognized by the conference, which is voted on by all the head coaches,” FLC head coach Cesar Rivas-Sandoval said in a news release. “Phil has been the most productive defensive player in Fort Lewis College football history. I wish our team success could have elevated his individual accolades even further, but it never diminishes those accomplishments.”

Odell is the first FLC player to earn All-RMAC honors since wide receiver Justin Johnson landed on the first team in 2010. It’s a solid honor to end a career in which Odell was no worse than 16th in tackles in the league, and that was as a freshman. He was third as a sophomore and sixth as a junior alongside a laundry list of academic accomplishments.

“He’s one of those guys who can perform at the highest level in the classroom and the highest level on the football field. He’s just an example of what great effort is, 24/7,” Rivas said.

No. 1 CSU-Pueblo picked up three individual awards. Quarterback Ross Dausin was named Offensive Player of the Year, while John Wristen was named Coach of the Year. Linebacker Kevin Cuff picked up Defensive Freshman of the Year honors.

Chadron State linebacker Kevin Lindholm was picked Defensive Player of the Year, while Colorado Mines punter Taylor Accardi was tabbed for the top special teams honor. Western New Mexico quarterback Mitch Glasmann was selected Offensive Freshman of the Year.